Liquid tank liner connection

ABSTRACT

The connection employs a plate with at least one through hole for receipt of a liquid conduit tube and at least two projecting threaded studs. A portion of a flexible, non-molded removable liner is mounted between the plate and an inside surface a liquid containing tank having an annular opening. The liquid conduit tube passes through an annular opening in the flexible liner and a flange cap or threaded insert is engaged to either a tank head flange or threaded pipe welded to the tank adjacent to the annular opening. The flange cap or threaded insert receives the studs and nuts are tightened down over the studs tightly pressing the portion of the flexible liner to the inside surface of the tank.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to connections for a liner in a tank containing liquids. More particularly, it refers to connections to a flexible, non-molded liner mounted within a liquid storage vessel.

In potable hot water tanks, it is necessary to provide a flexible, non-molded liner which is resistant to corrosive attack from salts and other materials in the water. As set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,112, incorporated herein by reference, the prior art uses a bolt or flange on the water tank exterior at an inlet and outlet port to form a seal with each of corresponding inlet and outlet ports on the liner. Such a flexible, non-molded liner can be replaced by unbolting the bolt or flange on the water tank exterior. However, the connection of a replacement liner is cumbersome and difficult to install. A more easily mountable means of installing a flexible, non-molded liner in a liquid containing tank is needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a connection to easily mount a top portion of a flexible, non-molded liner to an inner surface of a tank containing a liquid. The connection employs a plate having at least two outwardly projecting studs and at least one liquid conducting tube passing through the plate. The upper portion of the flexible, non-molded liner is pressed between the plate and the inner surface of the tank adjacent an annular opening. A tank head flange or an externally threaded pipe is welded to an outside of the tank adjacent the annular opening. A flange cap or threaded insert is tightened down over the studs to lock the flexible liner in place.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tank containing the liner connection of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the components used in the connection.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view along line 3-3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tank containing an alternate connection for the liner.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a connection for the liner in the FIG. 4 tank.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the components used in the connection shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view along line 7-7 in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST MODE

Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the tank 10 has a connection 12 to allow ingress and egress of a liquid to or from the tank through tubes 14 and 16 passing through plate 18 into the interior of the tank 10. Multiple threaded studs 20 project from plate 18. Additional tubes could pass through plate 18, if needed.

A top portion of liner 22 abuts an inside surface of tank head 24. The liner 22 has a central annular opening 28 that is aligned with, but smaller than, central annular opening 26 in tank head 24. A tank head flange 30 has a collar 32 that is welded 34 adjacent to annular opening 26.

As seen in FIG. 3, a flange cap 36 has an upper annular flange 38 integral with, but spaced apart from, a lower annular flange 40. An O-ring 42 is located between the lower annular flange 40 and the liner 22. Studs 20 mounted on flange plate 18 pass through holes 44 in liner 22 and through holes 46 in lower flange 40 of the flange cap 36 and then are affixed in place by a nut 48. The upper annular flange 38 of flange cap 36 is attached by bolts 56 and nuts 58 to the annular tank head flange 30 through holes 50 in flange cap 36 and through holes 52 in tank head flange 30. Annular opening 54 inside lower flange 40 of the flange cap 36 is about the same diameter as opening 28 in the liner 22. Therefore, lower flange 40 seats on the top portion of liner 22 around opening 28 whereas upper flange 38 of the flange cap 36 seats on tank head flange 30.

An alternate connection 12 a to a side of a tank 10 a, is seen in FIGS. 4-7. The connection 12 a is designed to hold a flexible liner 62 in place within tank 10 a by threading studs 64 on plate 66 through holes 68 in flexible liner 62. A liquid conduit tube 70 mounted through plate 66 passes through annular hole 72 in the flexible liner 62. An O-ring 74 seals the connection between plate 66 and flexible liner 62. The liner 62 is press fit against an inner surface of tank wall 60 by passing studs 64 and tube 70 through a threaded insert 76 having receiving holes 78 for the studs 64 and hole 88 for tube 70. A threaded pipe 80 is welded 82 to the tank outer wall 60 around an annular hole 84. The studs 64 and tube 70 are held in place by nuts 86 attached to the ends of studs 64. By tightening down on threaded insert 76 the flexible liner 62 is pulled tightly against an inner surface of tank wall 60 adjacent the hole 84. By removing fasteners 86 and unthreading insert 76, the connection 12 a can be easily removed and the flexible liner 62 thereafter removed from the inside of tank 10 a.

No separate liner lip is needed as in the prior art.

This invention has adaptability for potable hot water tanks or other tanks containing liquids compatible with the liners 22 or 62.

Other equivalent elements can be substituted for the connection elements set forth above to produce substantially the same results in substantially the same way. 

1. A connection on a liquid storage vessel to secure an internally mounted removable, flexible, non-molded liner to an inside surface of the storage vessel, the connection comprising: a plate having at least two projecting threaded studs and at least one liquid conducting tube through the plate; a portion of the flexible, non-molded liner mounted between the plate and an inner surface of the liquid storage vessel adjacent an annular opening in the liquid storage vessel; the threaded studs projecting through the annular opening in the liquid storage vessel; a tank head flange or threaded pipe welded in place on an outside surface adjacent the annular opening in the liquid storage vessel; and means for securing the studs firmly in place so that the plate presses the portion of the flexible liner tightly against the inner surface of the liquid storage vessel adjacent the annular hole.
 2. The connection according to claim 1 wherein the means for securing the studs in place is a lower annular flange of a flange cap integral with, but spaced apart from, an annular upper flange, the annular upper flange affixed to the tank head flange welded to an outside edge of the liquid storage tank around the annular opening.
 3. The connection according to claim 2 wherein nuts are fixedly attached to the studs passing through openings in the lower flange of the flange cap and fastener bolts and nuts connect the upper flange of the flange cap to the tank head flange.
 4. The connection according to claim 3 wherein an O-ring is mounted between the lower flange of the flange cap and the flexible liner.
 5. The connection according to claim 1 wherein there are eight threaded studs projecting from the plate.
 6. The connection according to claim 1 wherein there are two liquid conducting tubes through the plate.
 7. A connection on a liquid storage vessel to an internally mounted removable flexible, non-molded liner, the connection comprising: a plate having two projecting threaded studs and a tube through a bore in the plate; a portion of the flexible, non-molded liner mounted between the plate and an inner surface of the water storage vessel adjacent an annular opening in the liquid storage vessel; an internally threaded pipe welded around the annular opening on an outer surface of the liquid storage vessel; a threaded insert threadable engaging the threaded pipe, the threaded insert having a pair of through bores for receiving the two studs, a through bore for receiving the tube and a fastener attached to the ends of the studs projecting through the insert so that upon tightening the threaded insert, the portion of the flexible liner is tightly pressed against the inner surface of the liquid storage vessel.
 8. The connection according to claim 7 wherein an O-ring is positioned between the plate and the portion of the flexible liner to seal the portion of the flexible liner to the plate.
 9. A method of connecting a removable flexible, non-molded liner to an inside surface of a liquid storage vessel, the steps comprising: providing a plate having multiple projecting threaded studs and at least one through bore receiving at least one liquid conduit tube, inserting a flexible, non-molded liner into an annular opening in the liquid storage vessel, the liner having an annular opening through which the at least one liquid conduit tube passes; welding a threaded pipe or tank head flange to an outer surface of the liquid storage vessel around the annular opening in the liquid storage vessel; threading the multiple projecting threaded studs and at least one liquid conduit tube through the liner and through the annular opening in the liquid storage vessel so that the plate abuts against a portion of the liner and the portion of the liner presses against an inside surface of the liquid storage vessel adjacent the annular opening; providing a means for engaging the studs; and tightening down on the studs with threaded nuts so that the portion of the liner is tightly pressed against the inside surface of the liquid storage vessel.
 10. The method according to claim 9 wherein a flange cap having an upper and lower flange spaced apart is provided as the means for engaging the studs, the lower flange is connected to the multiple studs through multiple holes in the lower flange and the upper flange is connected to the tank head flange by fasteners passing through multiple corresponding holes in the upper flange at the tank head flange; and tightening nuts on the studs and the fasteners to complete the connection of the liner to the liquid storage vessel.
 11. The method according to claim 9 wherein a threaded insert having a pair of bores for receipt of two studs and a central bore for receipt of the liquid conduit tube is threaded to the threaded pipe, a nut is threaded to an end of the stud and the threaded insert is turned within the threaded pipe to press the liner against the inner surface of the liquid storage vessel.
 12. A connection on a liquid storage vessel to secure an internally mounted removable, flexible, non-molded liner to an inside surface of the liquid storage vessel, the connection comprising: a plate having multiple projecting threaded studs and at least two liquid conducting tubes through bores in the plate; a portion of the flexible, non-molded liner mounted between the plate and an inner surface of the liquid storage vessel adjacent an annular opening in the liquid storage vessel; the threaded studs projecting through corresponding bores in the liner around an annular opening in the liner for passage of the at least two liquid conducting tubes; a tank head flange having multiple bores for receipt of fasteners, the tank head flange welded to an outside surface adjacent the annular opening in the liquid storage vessel; and a flange cap integrally having an upper and lower annular flange spaced apart, the upper flange having multiple bores corresponding to the bores in the tank head flange and fastened together with the tank head flange, the lower annular flange having bores corresponding to the number of studs and tightly fastened together with the studs by a threaded nut inserted over an end of each stud.
 13. A connection according to claim 12 wherein an O-ring is inserted between the portion of the liner and the lower annular flange of the flange cap.
 14. A connection on a liquid storage vessel to secure an internally mounted removable, flexible, non-molded liner to an inside surface of the liquid storage vessel, the connection comprising: a plate having two projecting threaded studs and a liquid conducting tube through a central bore in the plate; a portion of the flexible, non-molded liner mounted between the plate and an inner surface of the liquid storage vessel; the two threaded studs projecting through corresponding bores in the liner around an annular opening in the liner for passage of the liquid conducting tube; a threaded pipe welded to an outside surface adjacent the annular opening in the liquid storage vessel; a threaded insert having a bore on each side of a central bore, the central bore receiving the liquid conducting tube and the other bores each receiving one of the studs; a nut tightened down over an end of the stud protruding through the threaded insert; and the threaded insert turned a sufficient distance within the threaded pipe to press the portion of the liner against the inner wall of the liquid storage vessel.
 15. The connection according to claim 14 wherein an O-ring is positioned between the plate and the portion of the liner inside the liquid storage vessel.
 16. The connection according to claim 1 wherein the liquid storage vessel contains water.
 17. The connection according to claim 7 wherein the liquid storage vessel contains water.
 18. The method according to claim 11 wherein the liquid storage vessel contains water.
 19. The connection according to claim 12 wherein the liquid storage vessel contains water.
 20. The connection according to claim 14 wherein the liquid storage vessel contains water. 